It is quite common for people to ignore odd eye symptoms just because they do not feel any pain, but that is not a good thing to do. The thing is that the eye contains no pain receptors, which means that you should talk to your doctor if you see things even if you do not feel any pain. While there is a limitation to your vision, you should have no trouble seeing things within a reasonable distance. If those images are not crisp and clear or you notice blurry lines in vision, you should consult a doctor. Seeing wavy line in your vision is called metamorphopsia. Let's find out more about it.

Why Does It Happen?

Many different conditions may be responsible for visual disturbances, but most people experience the problem due to ocular migraines and macular degeneration.

Wavy Lines in Macular Degeneration

This chronic eye disorder causes the macula to deteriorate gradually and eventually lead to blindness. You can have dry or wet macular degeneration. Dry macular degeneration, which is the more common type, causes the macula tissue to become very thin and eventually break down. Wet macular degeneration will lead to leaking of the retinal blood vessels. Visual disturbances are constant in macular degeneration.

Along with wavy lines, you may also experience other visual problems with macular degeneration. The most common symptoms are dullness of colors, inability to read, blurring or blind spots, hallucinations, and difficulty adjusting to changes in light intensity. Early diagnosis usually helps slow down the progression.

Ocular Migraine and Wavy Lines

Blurry lines in vision could be the result of ocular migraines. It usually means that you experience visual disturbances when you have a migraine attack. The condition is quite rare and affects less than 1% of migraine sufferers. The visual disturbances are usually episodic in nature and resolve within 4-72 hours. If you have ocular migraine, you may also experience other symptoms such as flashing lights, blind spots, increased sensitivity to light, and loss of vision in one eye.

Treatment Options

When you see wavy lines, it usually indicates an underlying eye problem. It is therefore important to see your doctor and determine the best treatment option. In case of ocular migraines, the treatment usually focuses on preventing an attack in the first place. You may also have to take anti-epileptics, NSAIDs, and tricyclic antidepressants to control your symptoms.

Macular degeneration usually requires a different treatment approach. Your doctor may prescribe supplements to increase your intake of vitamins and minerals. Just keep in mind that treatment cannot correct the damage that has already been done to your vision. Sometimes, your doctor may recommend the implantation of telescopic lenses, but they may use other surgical options if you have wet macular degeneration.

Other Causes of Blurred Vision

You may experience blurry lines in vision mainly due to macular degeneration and ocular migraine, but other problems may also lead to the same. For instance:

Eye Strain: The extensive use of computers, TV, smartphones, and video games can strain your eyes, which in turn increases your risk of having blurred vision. You may experience the same after staring at something for long or reading for extended hours. Exposure to bright light may also cause eyestrain and result in visual disturbances. The most common symptoms of eyestrain include watery, red eyes and a dull ache, especially in the eyelids.

Refractive Errors: Blurred vision may well be a symptom of refractive errors of the eye. It usually means that your eyes cannot bend light rays correctly. You can have it treated through refractive eye surgery such as PRK or LASIK. Simply wearing contact lenses or spectacles will fix the issue.

Cataracts: This common eye problem is usually characterized by cloudy vision, but some people may also experience blurring at the same time. You develop the problem when the cataract becomes cloudy and discolored, which in turn will obstruct the passage of light and lead to vision problems. The problem is more common in older people, but some types of cataracts are present from birth. Lifestyle factors, injury, and infections may also lead to cataracts.

Uveitis and Iritis: The middle layer of the eye is called the uvea, whereas the pigmented part around the pupils is called the iris. Inflammation of these structures can cause uveitis and iritis. Inflammation may be the result of an injury, infection, or an autoimmune disorder. Once inflamed, you will experience several vision problems, including blurred vision or blurry lines in vision.

Poisoning and Toxins: Exposing your eyes to certain chemicals may also increase the risk of visual disturbances. Alcohol also works as a toxin, and when consumed in excess often leads to blurred vision and other problems. When the blurring is the result of poisoning, you may experience vomiting and nausea as well. When left untreated, it can also lead to blindness, which is often irreversible even after you have received treatment for poisoning.